Tappet valve



Sept. 6, 1932. J. J. PARKER TAPPET VALVE Filed April 19. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 five/7f /d/7765 c/ d/71 67" 5 41 40 4 waw m P 6, 1932- J. J. PARKER- 1,875,758

TAPPET VALVE Filed April 19, 193.0 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 50 M f; I

67-- 66 6 v j 6 50 l I J. J. PARKER Sept. 6, 1932.

TAPPET VALVE Filed April 19, 1930 I5 sheets sheet tal:

Patented Sept, 6, 1932 Quakes a. PARKER, or A s ooN, newquasar "TAPPET vane;

" Application filedtpril 19,

The present; invention relates to tappet valves, and is; particularly concerned with .valves'for internal combustion engines.

'One of the principal disadvantages of the ,tappet valves of the prior artlies in the fact proper clearance, and clearance is usually necessa onfaccount of the expansion of the fparts :of' theengine when the engine .is heated. Ifsuch clearance were not provided,

1 .the-lflbniplete.closure of the, tappet valve as would not be assured under all conditions,

with aconsequent-loss, of power,-and the inherent advantages of the tappet valve would not be fully utilized.

" One ofthe-oojects ofthe presentinvention is: the provision of an improved tappet valve arrangement v whereby all of the tapping noise of the valves isr'eliminated. 7 ,Another object is the provision of an improved tappet valve actuating mechanism t which is peculiarly adapted toaccomplish a mo e silent operation of the valves. ,Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved valve arrangement in whichtheslight noiseincident to the opera tion of 'thevalve-is made inside the intake or exhaustmanifol'ds or inside the engine block, where it is muffled and dissipated thereby substantially reducing the noise of the eni e .i A, 1 Another object is the provision of a device of the gclassi-described whereby the accom plishment of adjustments is made extremely simple, eliminating the necessity for use of a a thickness gauge, and assuring the use of the particular clearance-recommendedand provided-by thefifactory for each valve, at all subsequent adjustments, such as after grindi ig 1 Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved tappet valve arrange- ,proved valve of the class described, whichis "g without excessive labon;

1930. Serial'No;:445',633.

mentwhereby the clearance for the valves may be automatically predetermined, there.- by enabling the adjustment ofyalve; clearance by unskilled labor'with greater faccuracy,with less difliculty, andassuring proper clearance for eachgindividual valve at all times.

Another object'is the provision of an improved tappet valve'construction by-ineansofv whicha closer valve lit-maybe accom- '6 plished through the provision "of a, valve which is adaptedto seat in the same position atalltimes. v r

Another object is the provision bean} imsimple in its construction, eflicient in its operatlon, "durablefand capable of economical manufacture and assembly: N j a I Another object is the provision ofan improved tappet valve-of the class described which is adaptedto be installedin existing internal combustion engines 1 for replacement or repair of theexisting valves,--to embody the present improvementsinv such engines V v v 7' Other obj sets and advantages of the inven} tion will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying draw;- ings, in which similar characters 20f reference a indicate similar parts through'out-the,several 80 views. It should be understoodthatiwhile allzof the foregoingfeatureskcooperate to accom} 'plishthe best results.,-the*more si niple forms of the invention need not necessarily include all of the advantageous features described herein, and the presentinventionincludes all of the combinations and permutations or modifications of the present embodiments which haveany or all of the features disclosed herein. r

Referring to the d'rawings, offwhich there are thr'ee'sheets, I i 1 V Fig. '1 is a sectional vieW taken on the planeof the axis of a valve stem showing an ex emplary form ofinstallation employing the present tappet valve;

a tappet valve assembly of a'simplified form;

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View of another modification;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4: of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1

tional view taken on the axis of a valve stem illustrating the valve clearance adjustment which may be utilized in any of the valves described herein;

' Fig. 9 is a sectionalview taken on the plane of the line 99 of Fig. 8; v

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 101() of Fig. 8;

fendof the valve assembly of Fig. 1 with the main valve spring'and washer removed;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of the clearance adjustment feature with the clearance adjuster in normal position; and

Fig. 14' is a similar view with the clearance adjuster in position to facilitate the automatic adjustment of a valve to the predetermined clearance provided by thefactory.

Referring to the first sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 is an exemplary installation of a tappet valve constructed according to the present invention. The installation is embodiedin an internal combustion engine having an engine block 20 which is formed with a valve open- V valve stem 25 and aperture 35 is of 'suificient size to pass key 36 so that after the key is ing having a valve seat 21 adaptedto be engaged by the complementary seating surface 22 on a valve disc 23. The engine block 20- V is customarily provided'with a valve guide 2 1 for the valve stem 25, for movably supporting the tappet valve with respect to the engine-block 20 and valve seat 21', and the valves may be actuated by any type of actuating mechanism 26, such as the usual rocker arm which is provided with an adjustable screw bolt 27 having a lock nut 28 for securing the bolt 27in the desired adjusted position.

The valves of the prior art have customarily been provided with a clearance between the actuating mechanism 26 and the end of the valve stem 25, and the major part of the noise which is caused by the tappet valves of the prior art is occasioned by the click or tap between the valve actuating mechanism and the valve stems at the bolt 27 The present tappet valves are preferably provided with an auxiliary actuating member 29 which extends from a point outside the internal combustion chamber into the intake or exhaust manifold or valve chamber 30 for the purpose of engaging a valve part and actuating the valve to open position. The

present arrangement is, of course equally adaptable to engines with overhead valves or other types. The valve actuating member 29 may be inthe form of a sleeve as shown in Figs. 1 and'2, slidably mounted on the valve stem 25 and also mounted for slidingmovement within the valve guide 24, and the sleeve '29 is adapted to engage the valve 23 at some point within the valve chamber 30.

The'clearance which is necessary anddesirable to assure the complete closure of the valves under all conditions may thus be provided between the shoulder 31 on the tappet valve and the end 32 of the valve actuating member 29, and the sleeve 29 is also preferably provided with a resilient member such as acoilspring 33 locatedwithin the sleeve be tween the end of valve stem'25and the closed end343 of sleeve 29. "Thesp ring 33 urges the sleeve 29' downward upon the valve stem 25 in Fig. 1 and tends to maintain the clearance between the parts 31, 32 in order to securethe valve stem and valve actuating member 29 in predetermined relation; The valve stem 25 is preferably formed'with a transverse aper ture 35 through which is adapted to pass a pin or key'36 also preferably formed with a slot 37. The sleeve 29 is also formed with registering apertures 38 having sufficient clearance with respect to thekey 36 so that the key does not engage either the lower nor located in the position of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, the

valve disclosed in Fig. 2, which is preferably provided with a sleeve 29 of such size that the sleeve 29 will fit in the valve guide of the internalcombustion engine in which the present valves are to be placed.

The valve stem 25, may either be madev smaller than the standard valve stem for that engine by twice the thickness of the wall of sleeve 29, provided the stem is still strong The relation of parts after ine enough or a larger stem and sleeve can be used by merely enlarging the valve guide. It will thus be evident that thepresent tappet Artemis internal combustion engines without; 1 materially changing the structure of the engine.

, The key- 36*isalsoadapted to providea support for a spring Washer 41,whi'clrsurrounds the sleeve 29' and valvestem 2'5 and "the valve maly'be urged intoclosed position by 24- and the other end seate'cl up'on the-washer 41. I I l The spring 42re'acts against engine block 20- and urge's washer 41 and key' 36 downward in Fig.1. Key 36 engages valve stem at slot 37 andit will thusbe evident that the spring 42 urges the valve disc '23 into 'closed'or seated position. i

The valve-actuating member 29 is preferably-provided with a plurality of apertures 44*for receiving a small amount of lubricant and the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is'also peculiarly adapted to effect the seating of the valve disc 23 in exactly the same position at all times. For this purpose the valve guide 43-may be providedwith inwardly projecting teeth or keysf45 adaptedto slidably en gage in the longitudinally extending grooves 46 form'edin the valve actuatii'ig member 29- The keys -45 prevent rotation of the tappet tube 29 in valve guide 43 but permit the desired'sliding movement and the key 36 prevents relative rotation between tappet tube 29 andvalve-stem25, but also permits the necessary relative sliding movement between these parts.

"The valve disc '23 is thus positively prevented from rotating with respect to the valve seat*21 and every part of the seating surface 22 on the valve 'CllSC Wlll always engage the same part of the valve seat 21, thereby assuring a more perfect closure than can be accomplished by thefreely rotating valves of the prior art. The slots 46 are preferably ex tended to the extreme end .oftappet tube 29 so as to facilitate the assembly of the parts by sliding tappet tube 29 into valve guide 24 from oneend'. i v

The present tappet valves may also be provided with an arrangement for simplifying valve adjustments, eliminating the necessity for using a thickness gauge and assuring the particular'clearance recommended and provided by the factory for the valve. The valve clearance adjuster may consist of a movable head or adjuster 47 carried by the end of tappet tube29 or interposed between the valve actuating mechanism 26 and the valve at any I convenient point.

in the present embodiment the adjuster 47 consists-of a relatively short metal member of a shape similar to that of a tappet tube 29 and'provide'd with a centrally'located rivet 48 fixedly secured in head 47 but slidably mounted in anaperture 49 formed in the end34 of tappet tube 29. The end 34 'of tappet tube 29 is providedwith a" groove 50"and the adj acentside of adjuster 47 is provided a with aridge51capable'of being received in 'thegroove 50. The depth'of groove 504s relatively immaterial but the height of ridge 51"is equal to the amount-of clearance ree adjuster is located, and the rivet 48 is of 'qklliired for the particular valveupon which aving one .end'seated about'the t 'downwardlyproj ecting part 43 of valve guide -10 sufficient length'to permit the adjusting head 47 mm moved away from the 'endof'tappet tube 29 and rotated so that the ridge51 i's. moved outof groove 50-into engagementwlth the'relatively flat end 52'of tappet tube 29.

The rotation of the-adjuster 47 thus increases the length of the tappet tube'29 by an amount which is exactly equal to the clearance desired forthe tappetof the particula'r'valve.

and the intake and exhaust valves of combustion engines may thus be provided with ad justers having the predetermined clearance adjustment recommended for that particular engine.

i The-present tappet valves are intendedto be used with the'head 47 in direct engagement with the bolt 27 or'other valve actuating mechanism at all times, the appropriate valve clearance being provided at the points 31, 32 in the Valve chamber. tappet valves may be used with all types of internal combustion engines and the term valvechamber is used to include those parts of the internal combustion engine, *such as combustion chamber, intake manifold orexhause manifold in which the valves maybe located. I i v i Referring to Fig. 3, this is a fragmentary view'of'a modification in which the tappet tube 29 is provided with an outwardly flaring part 53 adapted to engage the lower'side 54 of valve disc 23. i

Referring to Fig. 11, this is a similar view of a modified form of tappet valve in which the valve stem 25 is tubular in form, being formed with an axial bore 55a for receiving a tappet rod'56aadapted to perform the The present 7 same function'as the tappettube '29'of F igure 1. a

In this embodiment the auxiliary spring 33has been omitted, the tappet rod 56a is returned by gravity and the tappet rod 56;;

communicating with the valve chamber 30 so that. the tap of the tappet rod 56a'against the valve takes place within the valve chamber,the point-s 57a and 58a of Fig. 11 corre sponding to the points 31 and 32 of l.

.Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are fragmentary elevav tional views of the lower end of tappet valve ofFig. l. Fig. 13 illustrates'the valve adjuster 47 in the normal position with the clearance ridge 51 in thegroove 50, while Fig. 1% shows the clearance adjuster 47 in the position which it assumes during the adjust ment of the valve clearance.

The valve clearance may 'follows: The lock nut 28 is first loosened and the bolt 27 screwed away from adjusting head 47 after which the adjuster 47 ma be engages adjuster 47 movingtappet tube 29 upward into engagement with the valve at the valve off its seat.

7 the point 31, and this point of adjustment is felt by the operator byth-e increased resist ance to the adjustment of the screw 27 which takes place as soon as the clearance 31, 32 is taken up and the screw 27 commences to lift I The bolt 27 may thus be adjusted so that there is no clearance between the valve mechanism with the adjuster in the position of Fig. 14;, after which the lock nut 28 is'set and the adjuster 47 moved from the position of Fig. 1 k to that of- Fig 13. The spring 33 then retains the tappet tube in engagement with the adjuster 4L7 maintaining a clearance atthepoint 31, 32, which clearance should be equal to the height of the ridge 51 andthe clearance may thus be predetermined by use of an appropriate adjuster on the tappet valve.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6, and 7, these are similar views of a modified form of construction having a different formof valve actuating member. In this embodiment the valve disc 23, valve stem and valve seat 21 may be substantially as described with respect to Fig. 1. The valve guide 24 is preferably provided with anenlargedlbore 53 capable ofreceiving a valve stem guide 5 1.

The valve stemguide 5a comprises a substantially cylindrical member formed with an axial bore 55 for slidably supporting the valve stem 25' andfwith a pair of oppositelyjdisposed slots 56 forreceiving the legs 57 of avalve actuating or tappet member 58.

The valve stem guide5a may be threaded into the bore 53 or it maybe a close frictional fit as shownin Fig. 6 so that the valve stem guide forms a fixed part of the valve guide 24 when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 5. The lower end of valve stem. guide 54 may be provided with a-reduced portion 59', forming an annular shoulder 60 adapted to receive the washer 61, forming a seat for a helical spring 62. The end of valve stem 25 H is also provided with transverse bore 63 for receiving a keyor pin 6 l-which supports a washer 65 forming a seat for the opposite end'of spring 62.

The spring 62 reacts against washer 61 -andthe engine block urging the washer 65,

be adjusted as bodiment is preferably formed with a pair of legs 57 adapted to beslidably receivedin; the guide inember54, and provided at one end with means for engaging valve 23 within the valve chamber 30 and-at the opposlte end with means for engagement with a valve' actuating mechanism. 26. The legs57' are joined by a yoke 66 at the upper end, and the yoke 66 is provided with abore 67 for re ceiving valve stem 25. The upper surface 68 of yoke 66 is adapted to enga'geashoulder 69 on valve 23 and the clearance between shoulders 68, 69 is the usual tappet valve clearance for the particular valve in use. The lower ends of the legs 57 are also joined by a yoke 7 O which may be made thicker at 71 to provide an increased area for the down- 1;

wa-rdly projecting lug 72, which is adapted to be engaged by the screw bolt 27 on a valve actuating mechanism 26 such as the ordinary rocker arm.

The legs 57 are ofsufiici-ent length so that the clearance between the end 7 3 of valve stem 25 and the inner surface 74 of yoke is greater than the valve clearance 68, 69. The legs 57 and yokes 66, 70 thus-form a framework embracing the valve stem 25 and adapted to be actuated by the valve mechanism 26 to tap some part ofthe valve 23 -l0 cated within valve chamber 30,andthuse ifect the opening of the valve by the engagement of two parts having their clearancewithin thevalve chamber, intake or exhaust manifold or combustion chamber. v

The valve actuating member 58 'preferably has its legs 57 formedwith ofi-sets 7 5 below the guide member 2 1 so that the space between the legs 57 of tappet memberv 58, which is adapted to receive spring 62,.is' alsofo f sufficient size to pass'the guide member54- and facilitate the assemblyof these parts.

Referring to Figs. 8, 9, and 10, these are fragmentary views of" a modified form of valve clearance adjustment mechanism 7 which may be employed in any'of the forms of tappet valves described herein. Inthis embodiment the rivet 48 is also fixedly supported upon the valve adjuster 47 and slid ably mounted in a bore in the end 34i of the tappet member 29. 1 The valve adjuster is also. provided with the ridge 51 capable'of'being received in groove 50 but the inner end of rivet 48is riveted or otherwise secured .to a spring member 76, having its outer ends 77 curved,

downward to engage;the'innersurface of the wall 34:. The spring 76 urges thevalve adjuster into the position of Fig. 8, and tends to maintain these parts in a proper position for normal valve operation, but due'to' the. tapered surfaces78 on ridge51 and-groove50. the valve adjuster 47 may becammed down;

ward by a rotative movement of the adjuster 47 and the valve adjustment may be accomplished in exactly the same manner as that previously described.

The valve adjuster 47 mayalso be provided with a stop pin 79 fixedly secured'to the adjuster 47 and adapted to project into an arcuate slot 80 formed in the end 81 of, tappet member 29. The ends of the slot 80 ating member is directly engaged at all times by the valve actuating mechanism without clearance.

The clearance WhlCll 1s necessary and desirable to assure the complete closure of the tappet valves at all times, is provided between the inner end of the actuating valve member or tappet member and some part of the valve so that the tap incident to the operation of the valve occurs within the combustion cham her or valve chamber where the noise is dissipated, muffled or otherwise prevented from coming to the ears of the operator.

The present tappet valve construction is thus adapted to eliminate all noise incident to the usual tappet valves outside of the combustion chamber and to transfer the tap, so to speak, to a point within the manifold or combustion chamber where it will not be heard. Since no noise is experienced from the engagement of the valve 23 with its seat 21 it will be evident that the tap between the tappet member and the valve in the valve chamber will also be dissipated in the same manner.

If desired auxiliary springs may be used to hold the ordinary tappet assembly 26, 27, 28 snugly against the cam on the cam shaft.

The foregoing feature of silent tappet operation may also be used in connection with the feature of preventing the rotation of the valve 23 so that the valve will always seat in exactly the same position, which assures a more perfect closure than is possible Where the valve rotates about its'stem. The rotation of the ordinary valve on its stem very often results in the lifting of the valve seating surface 22 from its seat 21 at some point and this effect is eliminated by the construction shown in Fig. 1.

The present valves may be adjusted in the usual manner by measuring the clearance between the valve actuating member and the tappet member but the valves preferably also include the valve adjuster Which is provided with" a clearance adjustment recommended:

for-that particular valve,'and the clearance adjustment may be made by'sim ly rotatin the adjusten setting the screwbolti 27 an, then returning the adjuster to. the normal position as previously described. The present invention is thus adapted to utilize all'of the inherent advantages of tappetvalves while stilleliminatinglthe disadvantages'suchas the tappet noise, rotation of the valve, and difficulty of securing accurate ad ustment. Any of the novel features or structures describedhereinmay be combined with'any of-thfefeatures shown in other figures and the present embodiments are mere exemplary of some of the forms of the inven tionfii I i While I 'haveillustrated and described a specific embodiment of my invention, many I modifications may be made 'withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, andI do 7 not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myselfof all changes within the scope offthe appended claims.v V f Having-thus described my inventiom'what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the-'United Statesis:

1. A tappet valve comprising a valve disc,

a valve stem, and a sleeve carried 'bysaid stem and slidably mounted thereon, a stop member carried by said stem andengaging saidsleeve tolimit the clearance between'said sleeve and with an axially extending 'bore adaptedto communicate with the interior of the manifold, a valve actuating rod-'slidably mounted in said bore and projecting from the end thereof, said rod being adapted to engage the end of said bore to actuate said valve and having a predetermined clearance between the end of said rod and said bore, and a stop member traversing said valve stem and rod, said rod having an enlarged aperture for. said latter member to permit relative movement between said rod and stem.

3. A tappet valve comprising a valve formed with a seating surface and with a valve stem, and a valve engaging member comprising an elongated tube located about said stem and having an outwardly flarlng end for engaging beneath said valve, the valve clearance being provided between sald outwardly flaring end and the lower surface of said valve.

4:. A tappet valve assemblycomprising a valve stem guide having an inwardlypro ecting lug, a tappet valve having a valve seating surface, said tappet having a stem located in said guide, a valve actuator non rotatably mounted on said stem between said-stem and lit i of said sleeve; 7

uide said actuator havin a lon itudinall extending slot forengagement with said lug to prevent rotation of said valve.

5, In an internal combustlon engine, the comb nation ofoan engine block having a valve seat with a valve guide, a valve having a valve stem, a sleeve slidably mounted on said'guide and having a clearancebetween the end of said sleeve and said valve, and a valveactuating mechanism engaging the end f6. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination of an engine block having av valve seat wltha valve guide, a valve having a valvestem, a sleeve slidably mounted on SEEHlQUldQZLHd having a clearance between theendefsaid sleeve and said valve, and a V valveactuating mechanism engaging the end or s a'idsl'eeve, saidsleeve'and stem having registerl transverse apertures and a transverse-member located in said apertures and 7 adapted to prevent relative rotation between 7 said sleeve and stem.

' 7 In an internal combustion engine, the a combination of an engine block having'a gine block and said transverse member to maintain said portion in said slot.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe I my name this of April, 1930. i I

JAMES J. PARKER. 

